Astronomy
Possible Nova Pops in Cygnus
A newly-discovered star of magnitude +10.9 has flared to life in the constellation Cygnus the Swan. Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima, both…
Observing Alert: Watch the Moon Cross the Hyades This Week
A photogenic grouping greets evening sky watchers this week providing a fine teaser leading up to a spectacular eclipse. On…
How Far Can You See in the Universe?
When you look into the night sky, you’re seeing tremendous distances away, even with your bare eyeball. But what’s the…
Adventures in (Radio) Amateur Astronomy
Is there truly anything new under the Sun? Well, when it comes to amateur astronomy, many observers are branching out…
Slip-Sliding Away: Solar Flare’s Magnetic Lines Go For A Loop In This Video
When will the next big solar flare occur? How much damage could it cause to power lines and satellites? These…
Mars-Bound Comet Siding Spring Sprouts Multiple Jets
Comet Siding Spring, on its way to a close brush with Mars on October 19, has been kicking up a…
Rosetta Spacecraft Spies Its Comet As It Prepares For An August Encounter
As Rosetta limbers up for its close-up encounter with a comet, we have visual confirmation that it's on the right…
Discovery! Possible Dwarf Planet Found Far Beyond Pluto’s Orbit
What is a dwarf planet? Some astronomers have been asking that question after Pluto was demoted from planethood almost a…
Surprise! Asteroid Hosts A Two-Ring Circus Above Its Surface
Rings are a tough phenomenon to spot. As late as 1977, astronomers thought that the only thing in the solar…
Rocky Alien Planet Leftovers ‘Polluted’ White Dwarf Stars With Metal
What's with all the metals in the atmosphere of white dwarfs, those things that are corpses of stars like our…